A Quarter Century of Craft, People and Innovation

Twenty-five years is a long time in visual effects.

In 2026, FIN turns 25. That’s a quarter century of helping directors tell stories, solving hard problems one shot at a time, and learning a little more with each project.

The studio has watched tools it loved retire, new ones arrive, and built a few of its own to bridge the gaps. It grew from a tight crew in Darlinghurst to a multi-studio team across Australia – without losing sight of the work.

FIN started in Sydney, built by people who cared about the craft and the relationships behind it. No shortcuts. No hype. The company grew by showing up, doing the work, and earning trust.

Today, FIN is an independent VFX studio of more than 250 people across Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Ballina – with Adelaide coming online later this year. Scale matters less than what it lets the studio do: support crews locally, share knowledge, invest in R&D and take care of its teams.

That growth has travelled alongside Australia’s screen industry. The studio has been fortunate to collaborate with local and international partners and see work made here reach audiences well beyond Australia’s shores.

Across 25 years, FIN has evolved its tools, workflows, and pipelines, always with a purpose.

The focus has stayed on story: understanding a director’s intent, finding the smartest way through a creative challenge, and making sure the work serves the scene rather than overwhelms it.

That mindset has carried the studio across feature films, premium series, and complex episodic work; adapting as formats and expectations shift.

Scale hasn’t changed who FIN is. The studio is boutique by nature, not by size: small cross-functional teams, direct lines to leadership, and the freedom to experiment. Craft remains central to how it operates.

“As FIN has grown, the goal has never been to change who we are. It’s been to hold onto the boutique mindset of close collaboration, trust, and care for the work, while giving our teams more opportunity and stability.”

Chris Spry, Managing Director

Every shot still matters. Every department – from animation and FX to compositing, production, and pipeline, shares responsibility for the final image on screen. That emphasis has forged long-standing relationships with supervisors, producers, and studios who trust the studio project after project.

Ask anyone at FIN what’s sustained the company for 25 years and the answer is consistent: people.

“Our people are our superpower.”

Alastair Stephen, Head of VFX

From artists and technologists to producers, coordinators, and support teams, the studio has prioritised building an environment where people can do their best work and keep growing while they do it. That commitment has shaped its culture and its approach to mentoring, leadership, and long-term careers in an industry known for constant change.

Reaching 25 years is a moment to pause and reflect, but not to stand still.

As FIN turns its attention to what comes next, it is also important to recognise the strength of the partnerships around it. Becoming part of the Dream Machine network marks an exciting next chapter for FIN. It expands who the studio can work with, how it can scale ideas, and how it continues supporting its teams, while staying true to what has always defined it. FIN is excited to keep working alongside like-minded partners.

The tools will change, the challenges will evolve, but the studio’s focus remains the same: invest in people, embrace new ideas, and keep delivering good work, done well. The principles of craft, collaboration, and care that carried FIN through the first quarter century will guide whatever comes next.

Here’s to the next chapter.

Visit FIN Design + Effects at https://www.findesign.com.au/